I joined up a couple months ago to get access to the operating systems. Kind of bummed me out that I could get win 3.11 and DOS but not Win95, 98, Me, NT, etc. But since I'll probably end up with 4 machines again soon, it pretty much paid for itself. Still not a big fan of MS, but sometimes you've got to go with the flow.

Click to expand...

wait what? i thought u could get everything with technet? OS wise that is at the least am i to be lead diffirent? what if i want the older OS's

I did have some questions before I bought it though, and PM'd qubit as he is in the UK like me. We thought it might be useful to anyone else with similar doubts, so here's the transcript if it helps more people get this awesome deal and join this club:

KieX said:

Hey, was reading the TechNet subscribers thread because I was planning on getting one. Mind if I ask you something before I plonk a wad of cash on it?

My main question was how many keys does it give you per each OS, and do you get all the different retail version of these OS?

Click to expand...

qubit said:

This is a very good and fair question - no need to hide it behind a PM. You're only asking what you're getting for your money. Thanks for asking.

TechNet is basically amazing value.

Per OS (non-server) you get 10 keys. You also get every version of that OS. Obviously for yourself, you'll want to use Ultimate. However, you do indeed get all the other lower versions too. It even goes all the way down to Starter! This includes Vista & 7.

You get a block of 10 keys for each version too. So, if there are 7 versions, you have 70 keys!

You also get the latest Windows 2008 R2 server (this is Windows 7 in server form, 64-bit only) to download and the top Datacentre edition is worth several thousand pounds. You get something called a multiple activation key, which basically means that you can activate it over the internet on as many computers as you want.

You will also get the latest Office 2010 when it comes out.

There's loads of other weird and wonderful software that Microsoft make that I hadn't even heard of before I got the sub.

All this software is the full retail version, with no time or usage limits. It's allegedly supposed to be used for "evaluation" purposes only. Yeah, don't worry about that and just use it on your main systems; no one's going to ask about how you're using it.

If you want to share your question on the forum, just ask me there and I'll copy this answer. However, please PM the URL of your question, because I've turned off the post alerts for this thread now.

And finally, always use the money off coupon code on the TechNet website to get a significant reduction in price. Sometimes you can find other codes on various websites that give a better discount. Try googling it or ask in the TPU TechNet thread.

Any other questions, ask away!

Click to expand...

KieX said:

One last question, did I understand correctly from that answer that you only get 1 copy of each Microsoft Office? Or are those 10 copies like the OS?

Click to expand...

qubit said:

You get 10 keys for Office 2003, 2007. The 2010 beta has a multiple activation key.

Oh, forgot to mention, you're not supposed to sell or give away any of your keys. I definitely don't sell any of mine and I don't mean this euphemistically. I'm pretty sure they're all traceable back to the subscriber, anyway.

However, you can install a copy on a friend's PC as an "evaluation" of that product on their hardware and software setup and is a legitimate reason for doing so. Just don't use that key on any other computer. Again, no-one's gonna come after you.

People just love bashing Microsoft and their business practices. But, to be honest, while they do have some questionable practices (product activation and WGA anyone?) I think overall the company is reasonable and this subscription deal is phenomenal value, even without the money off coupon. Seriously, it's a no-brainer for anyone that wants anything more than one item of the cheapest products they sell. If you want to see control-freakery, just look at Apple. They got high prices, DRM and user restrictions on everythng. You wouldn't see me dead with any of their products.

Wow! How have I not heard of this before today? I am so in very, very soon.

I have a small question though. I didn't see this asked asked as I read through the thread, so pardon me if it's been touched before. Are the keys bound to the download or can I use the keys on the retail discs I already own?

Wow! How have I not heard of this before today? I am so in very, very soon.

I have a small question though. I didn't see this asked asked as I read through the thread, so pardon me if it's been touched before. Are the keys bound to the download or can I use the keys on the retail discs I already own?

Click to expand...

The download products available from TechNet are the full retail versions - the disc images will generate the same MD5 checksums as your discs, so the TechNet keys will also work with your discs.

This is my first TechNet sub, but I think that if you renew the sub you stay with the same keys, but if you buy a "new" one, you get 10 fresh keys. If someone can confirm this, I'd be grateful.

Ducky Year of the Snake w/ Cherry MX Browns & Year of the Tiger PBT Keycaps | Razer Deathadder Black

I think you're right, because the "renew" cost is about $100 cheaper than getting a new one. I am also on my first subscription year, though. But once Windows 8 comes out, you still get 10 fresh keys for it. Same with Office 2010.

so... can you subscribe for 1 year, cancel it at the end of your subscription, and don't renew your subscription until a new product comes out?

Click to expand...

The sub runs out automatically after a year, you don't cancel anything.

This means that you can continue to access the keys you paid for (claim them! They don't automatically show) but you can't download anything or get any new keys or keys for new products until you pay another sub.

The products you paid for can be used forever, just like any standard Microsoft purchase from a shop.